AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 87, 13 April 1874, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

Melbourne, April 7 The second batch of e.'ejtif>n_ resulted in the unopposed return of four v members, including the Solici'or-General. Mr Hartley Williams, barrutr. a son of the judge, opposes the Attorney-Genera , with profpacts of success. The Trea urcr's return is also doubtful. The general impression is that the Ministry cannot last, for if it obtains a majority on the constitutional question it will be to small as to be worthless. The barque Ecliptic, coal laden from Newcastle to Melbourne, ha< fceen totally wrecked on the Gippsland coast. Captain Eldridge and niae lives were lost. Only one lad was saved, atter being four hours in the water. Only t«ro bodies have been recovered, and none of the wreck has been seen. Maher has been arrested and remanded for perjury in the Buckley will ease. Mr Lantharn, of Greymouth, a passenger per Otago, died on the vessel reaching the port before landing. The heavy rains that have been falling for days have b -ought up tho rainfall of the ytar bejondthe average, an i are likely to injure the vintage. They hve somewhat marred the holiday proceedings. Very little has been doing during the la3t few days, owing to tho holidays. The ship Portland, bound for Canterbury, was spoken on March .2 All we 1. The Bishop of Nelson and Mrs S iter are passengers by the mail. Judge Williams' resignation is deferred till April 30tb, for the convenience ol the public service, as no business is doing on account of the holidays. Sydney, April 7. The Parliament has passed the Estimates, and adjourned for the holidays. The Flintshire has arrived with the Torres Strait's mail. At the Kandwick Autumn Meeting yesterday there was a splendid race for the Leger. Mr Tait's Sylvia colt and Rose d'Amour were first and second; Fitzyattendon was third, and a head behind was the Governor's colt. Kingsbirough won the Cbarnragne £takes. and Myrtle the Doncaster Handicap. Brisbane, April 7. The Treasurer's budpet has been submitted. The general tendency of the tariff ii protective. Ad valorem duties will be struck out where practicable, and he will abolish tho duties on New Zealand flux. Large numbers are arriving at the Endeavor river. Adelaide, April 7. Boothey's wheat statistics show the yield of wheat to be 7 bushels and 52 lb* to the acre. Tiio amount available for export will probably be 95,000 tons. The revenue for the quarter was £2P6 000. Colonel Warburton has arrived from his Western Australian explorations in good health. The Moonta miners have struck, owing to a reduction of wages. The escape of Rochfort and oihers cauged great surprise in France and commotion in New Caledonia. It appears that some of ihe patty treated (?) at Duer's Peninsula and others at Noumea, Rochfort and others were allowed to go on a fishing excursion, and went on board the barque P. C. E., where they remained stowed away in the lazaretic until clear of land, when they discovered themselves. There is no doubt that the whole affair was woll planned, though the captain of the barque denies all knowledge of the t scape of the Communists, who intend to proceed to England immediately. A correspondence is being carried on between Rochfort and Groueset and the French Consul a 1 ; Sydney. The latter views them as escaped convicts, but Groussct challenges him to demand their extradition.